Kymera Hybrid Bit Drilled Twice as Fast as Premium Roller

Case History
Kymera Hybrid Bit Drilled Twice as Fast
as Premium Roller-Cone Bits in Iceland
Two impressive runs to total depth in basalt
Benefits
„„
Drilled more than twice as fast as
premium roller-cone bits
„„
Excellent directional performance
on steerable motor
„„
More efficient drilling using less
WOB than roller-cones
Well background
and challenges
„„
Basalt formation, Iceland
„„
Geothermal well
Baker Hughes solution
and results
„„
Kymera hybrid drill bit
„„
10.8 m/hr ROP in 17½-in. section
„„
21.3 m/hr. ROP in 12¼-in. section
The Iceland Drilling Company rig site.
An operator in Norway with a planned
exploration well containing a demanding
basalt interval contacted Baker Hughes
for assistance.
Although basalt drilling is uncommon
in conventional oil and gas wells,
Baker Hughes thought that the Hughes
Christensen Kymera™ hybrid drill bit would
be ideal for this application. To validate
the Kymera drill bit rate of penetration
(ROP) and durability in igneous rock,
Baker Hughes identified a potential
geothermal application for a field test.
The Iceland Drilling Company agreed to
use the Kymera technology in one of
their geothermal wells.
The Kymera drill bit combines roller cone
and polycrystalline diamond compact
(PDC) technology to produce a hybrid
bit with maximum durability and cutting
efficiency in tough and challenging
applications compared to conventional
drill bit technology.
The geothermal test well experienced hot
steam entering the hole and blowing into
the derrick causing a seven-day delay as
components on the rig needed changing.
The normal bits used in the offset wells
have historically drilled to total depth (TD)
but with reduced ROP.
Baker Hughes drilled two different
sections, 17½ and12¼ in., for a total of
two runs using the Kymera hybrid drill
bit technology. The drill team drilled the
567.6 ft (173 m), 17½-in. section to TD
of 885.8 ft (270 m) using a rotary bottom
hole assembly. The average ROP was 10.8
m/hr, almost three times faster than runs
in offset wells.
Previously, Baker Hughes had successfully
run 12¼-in. PDC bits in an Icelandic basalt
application, proving that PDC technology
is a viable option. However, controlling
downhole vibration was a challenge
which resulted in severe cutter breakage,
reducing the cost saving potential
compared to conventional roller cone
technology. Using the Kymera hybrid bit
on a steerable motor and controlling ROP
due to well considerations by reducing
weight on bit (WOB), the team drilled the
12¼-in section to TD for a total distance of
1,597.8 ft (487 m) with an average ROP
of 21.3 m/hr. Due to reduced vibration
tendencies, both Kymera bits experienced
minimal wear, proving the value of the
PDC and roller cone hybrid concept in
basalt-like formations.
Depth In/Depth Out/ROP: Kymera drill bit vs. TCI roller cone
Two very impressive runs with Kymera hybrid bits in basalt
TCI roller cone
Kymera drill bit
ROP comparison for 17½-in. section vs offset wells.
The results were two very impressive
runs with Kymera hybrid bits in basalt.
The 12¼-in. interval achieved all
directional objectives, including build
inclination from 0 to 35°. The drill team
held back the drilling parameters for
both sections to manage well integrity.
Despite these controlled parameters,
the Kymera hybrid bit drilled more than
twice as fast as premium roller-cone bits
compared to offsets. Due to their reduced
vibration tendencies, both bits experienced
minimal wear, proving the value of the
PDC and roller cone hybrid concept in
basalt-like formations.
TCI roller cone
Kymera drill bit
ROP comparison for 12¼-in. section vs offset wells.
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